Packing/loading in tips

[Elementalsjw]

Have just finished my 2nd show, and would love to hear any suggestions/tips for packing and loading your goodies.

And have one to share that's been a real time saver for my jewelry displays. I have several earring and necklace wire displays, that take forever to load with the jewelry. Saw this suggestion on a craft fair blog, and it's worked out wonderfully, so thought I'd share.

Get a big roll of plastic wrap that comes in 2 feet width - Sam's and Costco should have it, or catering supplies stores. Lay out two long sheets of the plastic overlapping each other slightly, and place your display in the center of the sheets. Bring the plastic up over each side of the display, and either twist it together at the top, or tighten the wrap securely over your loaded display. This has worked wonderfully for me, both for ease in transport and in set up time, as the earrings are already loaded on the display. If one does fall off during transport, it's still secured in the plastic, so no looking in the bottoms of carry crates! Hope all that made sense - only on my first cup of coffee! :)

[stringnstone]

I like the plastic wrap idea. I have the revolving stands for earrings and made boxes just for them so all I do is pull them, fully loaded, from the box to the table and any stray earring cards are in the bottom of the box.

I have the Queen of packing for a DIL... she has things packed so all we do is open the tubs and start unloading...also the jewelry trays are set up to go right to the tables. This also helps if the heavens decide to open up as you are packing after an outdoor event.

I will say that this has come from 5 yrs of shows. We have different displays for different shows each in their own tubs...just take what we need for that venue.

[DonnaCDesigns]

I use the produce plastic bags from the grocery store. The really large ones that corn or steak can fit into. I put my earring holders with all of the earrings still attached right in the plastic bag and then in I store them

[TigersandDragons]

Our jewellery is pinned on boards that fit into frames. We put clear plastic garbage bags over them and place them in porfolio cases with bubble wrap or squishy rubber webbing in between. We also have a large wooden box that we can stack them in and lock up every night.

[Former_Member]

Pack the vehicle last in, first up...first in, last up. So my truck packed, product first, displays second, shelves third, tables forth, chair and packing station fifth, tent and weights last. Needful things, money, ipad, table covers and lunch in the cab with me. The reason the table covers get the cab cause they might need cleaning between shows.

[Former_Member]

I bought a scrapbboking tote (no i don't do scrapbook). It is on wheels, with large inner bag and smaller zipped pouches on sides and front. I keep all my "stuff" in it that I need to set up my display and paperwork. Sometimes there is enough room for lunch and water bottle. In the main part I have two plastic bins. One contains items that I need for any show (indoors or outdoors). Such as extra price tags, business cards, flyers, scissorcs, pens etc. I have another bin that I use only for outdoor shows, (mallet, duck tape. flashlight etc. My sales receipts, and brochures are in outside pouches. It has helped greatly when packing for a show, I know where everything is. I refill the tote after each show.

[Former_Member]

I simply have everything in large clear plastic totes. Product in some, display pieces in others. The key is that they are all stackable and fit very nicely into the van.

Its fairly simple. We pull up with the van next to the space, unload my scooter and then unload everything from the van. It all gets put down in the reverse order that it will be used. So product goes furthest away and canopy and weights are closest.

I usually have at least a dozen or so bins with product so its more important that everything gets packed so that it fits.